Meanwhile in Ukraine

[tomski]

7 minutes ago, Farrelli said:

I think lurches to extremes happens when democracy breaks down.  There are many reasons for that. People are then conned into thinking the alternative radical party are going to make their life better.  The classic case is Germany post First World War when they were faced with so much war debt and hyper inflation so it was easy to blame Jews and stir up hatred. So many parallels with today which is scary.

Always to do with economics.

[Cheese]

3 hours ago, gonzo said:

Lurches to extremes is what happens when normal working class folk don't get listened to and neglected.

The most damaging consequence of "working class neglect" over the last couple of decades is wealth inequality. The rich have got 1000's of times richer, while working class wages have basically stagnated, and cost of living has rocketed. And Sam Fender is right - this obvious injustice has been hijacked and re-framed as culture war bullshit to pit the working classes against each other.

Edited February 25, 2025 by Cheese

[Winchester White]

It is quite simple. The working class has been bummed by the aristocracy since England began. But never in any of our lifetimes have the rich been richer than now.

Let that sink in, why are the rich even richer than a decade ago even after the leveller of COVID-19?

When my mum and dad were in there 30's and 40's they could actually live a decent life on a workers wage.

"In January 1980, the average house price in the UK was £19,273. This is equivalent to £97,121 in 2024."

 

[Ani]

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DF0LPxboFao/?igsh=dTNwdzhkc2RmeWt6
 

Geoff Norcroft is that rate thing a right wing comedian but he has Farage summed up very well here. 

[Dimron]

45 minutes ago, Cheese said:

The most damaging consequence of "working class neglect" over the last couple of decades is wealth inequality. The rich have got 1000's of times richer, while working class wages have basically stagnated, and cost of living has rocketed. And Sam Fender is right - this obvious injustice has been hijacked and re-framed as culture war bullshit to pit the working classes against each other.

Eastern expansion of the EU was a big part.

I work with lots of Eastern Europeans.... none have any trade qualifications or schooling but come over, work on our construction sites and draw wages equivalent to a surgeon or architect back home. The industrialists at the top of our pile have taken advantage of this over the last 20 years or so and wages have been kept depressed and investment in productivity neglected.

Result is we are we are.

PS... if these workers need a dentist or medical treatment they go home as our NHS services are almost non-existent, they pay the local "mafia" who are controlling the relevant surgery and jump the queue... it's how things are done over there.

[athywhite1958]

18 minutes ago, Winchester White said:

It is quite simple. The working class has been bummed by the aristocracy since England began. But never in any of our lifetimes have the rich been richer than now.

Let that sink in, why are the rich even richer than a decade ago even after the leveller of COVID-19?

When my mum and dad were in there 30's and 40's they could actually live a decent life on a workers wage.

"In January 1980, the average house price in the UK was £19,273. This is equivalent to £97,121 in 2024."

 

I bought my first house in 1978, a 2 bed end terrace for £7,500, I sold it in 1987 for £29,500 (to Barry Butler who was playing for Chester City at the time)

[Winchester White]

Just now, Dimron said:

Eastern expansion of the EU was a big part.

I work with lots of Eastern Europeans.... none have any trade qualifications or schooling but come over, work on our construction sites and draw wages equivalent to a surgeon or architect back home. The industrialists at the top of our pile have taken advantage of this over the last 20 years or so and wages have been kept depressed and investment in productivity neglected.

Result is we are we are.

PS... if these workers need a dentist or medical treatment they go home as our NHS services are almost non-existent, they pay the local "mafia" who are controlling the relevant surgery and jump the queue... it's how things are done over there.

A bricklayer or chippie is earning that these days. It's the way things go, supply and demand.

You also have a very old school thinking of everything eastern European. Sure some is still true but you could say the same for many western countries, Italy especially.

[Winchester White]

Just now, athywhite1958 said:

I bought my first house in 1978, a 2 bed end terrace for £7,500, I sold it in 1987 for £29,500 (to Barry Butler who was playing for Chester City at the time)

We bought our first house for 52k (was bummed by a Trump like wanker) but sold after small extension for £135k only 3 years later.

That made us as a family but is fucking nuts. My lad is in his first job and trying to put away £500 a month just to hope to get his own place at some point in the future. He is lucky he can afford to do that though.

[Cheese]

12 minutes ago, Dimron said:

Eastern expansion of the EU was a big part.

I work with lots of Eastern Europeans.... none have any trade qualifications or schooling but come over, work on our construction sites and draw wages equivalent to a surgeon or architect back home. The industrialists at the top of our pile have taken advantage of this over the last 20 years or so and wages have been kept depressed and investment in productivity neglected.

Result is we are we are.

PS... if these workers need a dentist or medical treatment they go home as our NHS services are almost non-existent, they pay the local "mafia" who are controlling the relevant surgery and jump the queue... it's how things are done over there.

^ See. "It's all the working class Eastern Europeans' fault!"

[wanderer1984]

I think hating on Trump has become what some folk on here class as some sort of  cult.

Obsessed with everything he says or does but at the same time hoping he fails in everything he does or says.

He's become the new Boris on here ... Weird 

Looks like peace is on the horizon and the new defence spend here in UK is going up instead if going to the fake needy.

All thanks to Trump 

Whaddaguy 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 

[Spider]

43 minutes ago, wanderer1984 said:

I think hating on Trump has become what some folk on here class as some sort of  cult.

Obsessed with everything he says or does but at the same time hoping he fails in everything he does or says.

He's become the new Boris on here ... Weird 

Looks like peace is on the horizon and the new defence spend here in UK is going up instead if going to the fake needy.

All thanks to Trump 

Whaddaguy 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 

Increased defence spend was introduced by Sir Keir Starmer.

Trump doesn’t run our government despite what your Twitter feed may tell you.

I’m sure Sir Keir would appreciate your gratitude. Who knows, even your vote in a few years 😘

[BobyBrno]

41 minutes ago, Spider said:

Increased defence spend was introduced by Sir Keir Starmer.

Trump doesn’t run our government despite what your Twitter feed may tell you.

I’m sure Sir Keir would appreciate your gratitude. Who knows, even your vote in a few years 😘

Really?

[Casino]

Well, we def need to be ready to defend ourselves from trumpy pants

[Zico]

1 hour ago, Cheese said:

^ See. "It's all the working class Eastern Europeans' fault!"

I think he's agreeing with you saying it's the fault of "the industrialists at the top of our pile"

[wanderer1984]

1 hour ago, BobyBrno said:

Really?

Oh dear  ..  Seems Spider has fucked up ... Again 🤭

[wanderer1984]

1 hour ago, Spider said:

Increased defence spend was introduced by Sir Keir Starme

That's what I said ... Starmer doing the right thing.

But because of Trump x

Praise him for once.

 

[Bertie]

Praise the orange demagogue? Never.  Yes is good we’re increasing defence spend to 2.5% - necessary not least given the Russian threat (which Trumpy has of course emboldened).  But to praise that morally bankrupt, convicted felon, failed business man, tin pot bully, misogynist, racist, lying narcissist who’s an excuse for a human being? Nah.

Edited February 26, 2025 by Bertie

[Bertie]

And before the Trumpy fan club gets too carried away with him stopping the war and the prospect peace in Ukraine following the apparent minerals deal with US then I hope you’re right and I’m wrong, but not seeing this is any closer? 

Donald Trump said on Tuesday that in return for the deal Ukraine would get "the right to fight on", but didn't confirm if the US would continue supplying military equipment ad ammunition.

[Tonge moor green jacket]

9 hours ago, wanderer1984 said:

I think hating on Trump has become what some folk on here class as some sort of  cult.

Obsessed with everything he says or does but at the same time hoping he fails in everything he does or says.

He's become the new Boris on here ... Weird 

Looks like peace is on the horizon and the new defence spend here in UK is going up instead if going to the fake needy.

All thanks to Trump 

Whaddaguy 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 

It is still good news that he has eaten humble pie and decided to increase defence spending. 

No doubt he will have been critical in opposition of previous cuts to overseas aid, but it's different gravy having to actually make the decisions. 

Similar to his and his colleagues' innumerable repetitions of "Tory cost of living crisis". During a statement a couple of days ago, he said the cost of living crisis was caused by the war in Ukraine. 

I've no doubt this will be repeated in the coming months and years, just with a boot on the other foot, but I find it pathetic and patronising.

[Tonge moor green jacket]

8 hours ago, BobyBrno said:

Really?

It is blatantly obvious that American posturing in the past and now has played a part in getting European nations to increase spending. 

We started to increase it around 2020, but from a low base, after decades of reductions, and it still wasn't enough. 

[Tonge moor green jacket]

10 hours ago, Winchester White said:

It is quite simple. The working class has been bummed by the aristocracy since England began. But never in any of our lifetimes have the rich been richer than now.

Let that sink in, why are the rich even richer than a decade ago even after the leveller of COVID-19?

When my mum and dad were in there 30's and 40's they could actually live a decent life on a workers wage.

"In January 1980, the average house price in the UK was £19,273. This is equivalent to £97,121 in 2024."

 

We know the reasons housing is in short supply, and therefore more costly.

That isn't going to change any time soon.

 

[Spider]

8 hours ago, BobyBrno said:

Really?

2 things

highlight where in this speech he mentions Trump and says Trump made him increase spending.

just a time will do ie. At 48 seconds or whatever. Because I may have missed it on the 2 times I watched it.

second - have we increased spending? Your post from some finance guy seemed to suggest you thought not.

Thanks.

@wanderer1984 maybe you can help out here 😘😘😘

[Spider]

7 hours ago, wanderer1984 said:

That's what I said ... Starmer doing the right thing.

But because of Trump x

Praise him for once.

 

Where does he name trump as the reason? 

[London Wanderer]

10 hours ago, Winchester White said:

It is quite simple. The working class has been bummed by the aristocracy since England began. But never in any of our lifetimes have the rich been richer than now.

Let that sink in, why are the rich even richer than a decade ago even after the leveller of COVID-19?

When my mum and dad were in there 30's and 40's they could actually live a decent life on a workers wage.

"In January 1980, the average house price in the UK was £19,273. This is equivalent to £97,121 in 2024."

 

Aye

 Heard an economic podcast the other day where they were saying that until governments actually try to address this huge rise in inequality, then we won’t see improved growth & a healthier economy.

 It’s wild that the disparity in wealth is so high. And for all the legitimate problems with immigration, it’s not causing the issues we’re seeing with cost of living.

We were made to believe that the rich getting richer was vital for our economy & that the wealth would trickle down. Clearly thats not case now. 

Edited February 26, 2025 by London Wanderer

[Whitestar]

But what is wealth to the majority of people in this country?

Real serious wealth is what we never really see, it's for a very small minority.

There are lots of people who probably by no faults of their own are really on their arse, but their are plenty of others that know no different and have no intention of ever attempting to get off their arse as its how its always been.

Then there is Britain's normal people, make a bit of effort, have a bit of pride and are happy to be just managing.

Next level is what is becoming the majority, the plastic wealthy, we all know them (might be them) couple of holidays a year, £600 new tattoo, 11reg range rover sport ( private reg & all dash lights flashing but ya know) tanned wife with turkey teeth & hair extensions (would be quite fit if they stopped using just eat) gym membership, skin fade every 2weeks, media wall and an American fridge.

Then there are older people that actually have a bit of class, maybe even have a few bob but they never really spend it ( coz you never know), they normally die and leave it all to the plastic wealthy who can then upgrade to a Cayenne with only the service light to tape over.